ISLAMABAD, April 30: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission on Tuesday approved 33 projects to be executed at a cost of Rs164 billion, including indigenous development of a communications satellite.

Planning Commission spokesman Dr Asif Sheikh told journalists that 15 infrastructure projects of about Rs139 billion, 12 of social sector of Rs22.6 billion and six projects of Rs2.4 billion relating to other sectors had been approved. The meeting was presided over by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Mohammad Akram Sheikh.

The spokesman said the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) would develop the Pakistan Communications Satellite System at a cost of Rs18.8 billion to replace the country’s existing satellite whose life would expire in two years.

He said the Mangla dam raising project had been completed and the reservoir had an additional capacity of 2.9 million acre feet of water.

The project had been completed on time at Rs5 billion less than the estimated expenditure but the resettlement expenditure had increased from Rs26 billion to Rs60 billion, raising the overall cost to Rs101 billion, he said.

The CDWP approved construction of 100 delay-action dams in Balochistan at a cost of over Rs2 billion, revamping and rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage system in Sindh at Rs16 billion and a scheme for disposal of effluent from Balochistan in the Right Bank Outfall Drain at a cost of Rs6.5 billion.

It cleared construction of water storage dams in Shadi Kaur, Pasni and Gwadar at a cost of Rs2.6 billion.

The meeting approved a project for acquisition of land for a pilot project of 1,000 apartments for low-paid federal government employees at a cost of Rs258 million.

It approved two hydroelectric power projects of 16 and 14 megawatts in Nalter in Gilgit district at a cost of Rs2.9 billion.

A project worth Rs494 million was approved for strengthening the National Tuberculosis Control Programme by ensuring uninterrupted supply of drugs. The Roll Back Malaria Programme of Rs659 million was also approved. The CDWP approved a project for replacement of equipment of the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation and asked it to market its services and get orders for printing currency notes from other countries.

Answering a question, the spokesman said an Integrated Border Management System worth Rs496 million had been approved for computerised checking of travel documents at 24 exit and entry points in the country.